Central Pacific Developer Facing $2M in Fines

Developers behind a massive luxury housing project in the hills above the central Pacific surf town Playa Hermosa are facing fines of more than $2 million for environmental damage.

The project was shut down in March during a series of surprise inspections by the Environmental Tribunal, an administrative court of the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET).

The Central Pacific Conservation Area, a regional branch of MINAET, has accused Route General Services, the developers behind the project known as Vista Hermosa, of “incurably” damaging 9.4 hectares of forest to make way for roads and houses.

In addition, MINAET officials accused the developers of burying creeks running through the property with 4,500 cubic meters of sediment.